Recent progress in genomic prediction for Hanwoo cattle and its implications for beef quality: review

Genomic selection (GS) has become an indispensable tool in the beef cattle industry, offering the potential to significantly enhance genetic gain and prediction accuracy by integrating genomic, pedigree, and phenotypic information to estimate genomic breeding values. Hanwoo cattle (HC) are valued in the Korean Peninsula, for their exceptional marbling and distinct flavor. Thus, genetic improvement breeding programs for Hanwoo have been undertaken to improve beef production and profitability, emphasizing particular focus on carcass and meat quality traits. The success of a breeding program that incorporates genomic information in HC is largely dependent on prediction accuracy, thereby making genomic prediction (GP) essential for accelerating genetic gain. Hence, breeders must recognize the superiority of GS and choose the most suitable prediction model based on the genetic architecture and biological nature of the trait of interest. Several GP methods have already proven superior performance regarding carcass and meat quality traits compared to the traditional pedigree-based best linear unbiased prediction method. Consequently, no alternative approaches exist for breeders to accelerate the innovative development of Hanwoo beef cattle to GS. The main objective of this review is to provide an overview of the application of GP methods in improving the ultimate meat quality of HC. Furthermore, this review presents the transversal analysis of interest in GS for Hanwoo breeders regarding the selection of best prediction methods for specific traits. This review literature is expected to serve as a significant resource for future exploitation of Hanwoo's potential in the Korean beef industry.